Rubber boot or shoe and process of manufacturing same.



RAYMOND B. PRICE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB, TO RUBBER REGENERATING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

RUBBER BOOT OR SHOE AND PROCESS OF MANUFAGTURING No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND B. Pinon, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Boots or Shoes and Processes of Mam facturing Same, of whlch the following 18 a full,

clear, and exact disclosure.

This invention relates to rubber boots and shoes and to the process of manufacturing same, but more particularly to such 'ber supporting and strengthening fabric or fiber which is of itself a continuous integral unit having a conformation substantially similar to that of the article or a portion thereof to be produced and which may be graduated as to its flexibility, strength, thickness, com 'iactness, etc, in any predetermined manner to meet the conditions of Wear to which the article is subjected when in service.

The fabric used for supporting and strengthening the rubber has been formerly cut from flat sheets and then shaped to the many abrupt irregul ities and curvatures" of the form by subjecting it to such undue stretchingat certain parts and crowding or puckering at others as will attain these ends.

There has been no attempt to make the respective layers of fabric as a continuous integral unit. They are usually formed of two or more independent pieces and the abutting edges of adjacent portions are left free from each other and more or less separated, thereby adding nothing whatever to the support or strength of the rubber which spans the gaps between them.

Fraginental cuttings of fabric are added to the form for the purpose of reinforcing the boot or shoe at the necessary parts,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, H91 7,

Application filed October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,634.

thereby forming a body portion of graduated thickness. This at most produces a patch-work effect, which is clearly evidenced from the outer side of the boot or shoe, and instead of meeting the condition of excessive wear, often results in shifting the wear to some other part. The securing of the reinforcing pieces to the body of the article also requires the use of additional. rubber stock.

These objectionable features are practically eliminated in boots and shoes made according to the present invention. The rubber supporting and strengthening layer of fabric or fibrous material which is used 18, in its primary state, a continuous integral unit having a conformation substantially similar to the boot or shoe to be produced. This is drawn onto the form, and may, if desired, be made slightly smaller so that it will-fit snugly. \Vhen desired this layer of material may be provided with a slit (or slits) to facilitate its beingplaced upon the form; also more than one layer of material may be used. The layer of material is preferably composed of differently constructed portions to vary its thickness, compactness, flexibility, strength, etc., in a predetermined graduated manner to meet the various requirements as to wear which the boot or shoe is subjected to.

The layer (or layersyof fabric is associated with rubber in any preferred or well known manner and the rubber finally vulcanized.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A boot or shoe comprising a knitted seamless fabric lining completely shaped to conform to the inner surface of the finished-article under substantially equal tension of its threads at all points, and an outer covering of rubber vulcanized to said fabric.

2. A boot or shoe comprising a seamless fabric lining completely preshaped to conform to the inner surface of the finished article under substantially equal tension of its threads at all points and having wearing portions of greater thickness than the main body of said fabric, and an outer covering of rubber vulcanized to said fabric.

' .3. The method of mamifacturing boots or article so constructed While maintaining shoes which comprises, applying to a suitsaid fabric under uniform tension.

' able last or form a seamless fabric com- Signed at the city, county, and State of pletely preshaped to conform closely to the New York, this 22nd day of October, 1913. 5 surface of said last at all points and under RAYMOND B. PRICE.

substantially equal tension of its threads, .Witnesses: applying to said'fabric a covering of vul- CHARLOTTE M. SGHULE, canizable rubber, and then vulcanizing the JOHN J. CASEY.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained in Ive cents each, by addressing the done: at Patenim,

Washington, D. C. 

